Automatic weighing machine



Nov. 27, 1951 o. G. MOSHER 2,576,411

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE I Filed May 12, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet l lNVEN To a Ore/7 6. /1 7osher ATTO Q N EY Nov. 27, 1951 o. e. MOSHER 2,576,411

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE Filed May 12, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIIE E 5N VENTOR. Ore/7 G, Mai/76f QPQZWVAU ATTORNEY Nov. 27, 1951 Filed O. G. MOSHER AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE May 12, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet S INVE-NTOR -0re/7 G. Masher BY ATTORNEY Nov. 27, 1951 MOSHER AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 12, 1947 INVENTOR.

Oren 6. Masher ATTORNEY w wh v Nov. 27, 195] o. G. MOSHER AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 12, 1947 m m-HlHmH.

m mHlhm-n UJW -HM-HHHH INVENTOR.

Ore/7 6? Mos/7 er ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 27, 1951 AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE Oren G. Mosher, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Eagle Machinery Co., Ltd., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Application May 12, 1947, Serial No. 747,513

Claims.

Thi invention relates generally to automatic equipment for weighing predetermined quantities of a bulk material. It can be successfully applied to a wide variety of products including particularly dried fruit like prunes or raisins which are to be weighed in predetermined quantities for packaging.

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine of the above character which is particularly well adapted for measuring out small quantities of various products, and which would afford a relatively high degree of accuracy together with a high weighing speed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above character which is relatively simple in its construction and cycle of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism in conjunction with a weighing hopper for effecting automatic discharge of the product being weighed.

Additional objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a machine incorporating the present invention, with certain parts being broken away, and certain parts being shown in cross section.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view looking toward the opposite side of the machine, with certain parts of the machine being in section, and other parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the machine taken along the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the machine.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view illustrating the machine.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the machine schematically, together with the electrical circuit diagram.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating another embodiment of the invention in which both precision and bulk gates are employed.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate diagrammatically the same apparatus a Figure 8, but with the parts in difierent operating positions.

The present invention makes use of a continuously rotated feed drum which serves to feed products such as dried raisins at a constant rate. Below this feed drum there is a collecting or retention hopper adapted to accumulate the raisins for a temporary interval and which is provided with a closure gate. Below the retention hopper there is a weighing hopper carried by a weighing beam. The lower end of the weighing hopper is equipped with swinging doors Which can be opened or closed, and which enable discharge of a weighed quantity of the product. When a weighed quantity of the product is being discharged from the weighing hopper, the gate of the collecting hopper is closed to enable accumulation of raisins being supplied by the feed drum. After a discharge operation from the weighing hopper, the gate is opened to permit the raisins to pass into the weighing hopper until a predetermined weight has been obtained. The parts just described are operated and cycled by means of an electrical circuit and electrical motive means, whereby when the discharge doors of the weighing hopper are tripped to open position, automatic cycling means returns the doors to closed position after a predetermined time interval, and simultaneously open the gate from the retention hopper.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the machine disclosed therein consists of a rotating feed drum ll] disposed within the upper portion of a housing H. The horizontal shaft l2 upon which the drum I0 is mounted is extended and provided with an external sprocket l3, driven by chain M from a pinion sprocket l5 carried by an electric motor IS. The motor is operated continuously whereby the drum I0 is rotated at a predetermined speed. A chute I'I communicates through the top of the housing H and is provided with a manually adjustable gate l8, whereby the spacing of the lower edge of this gate and the periphery of the feed drum can be adjusted to adjust the rate with which the prodnot, such as raisins, is supplied by the drum to the lower portion [9 of the housing I l.

The construction of the feed drum l0 may vary depending upon the product being handled. In the form illustrated the drum is made in three sections Ina, lb and [00, the peripheries of which are provided with spaced cleats 2 I.

The lower portion IQ of the housing H forms a retention hopper which is provided with a gate 22 carried by the arms 23. These arms are pivoted at 24 whereby the gate can be swung between open and closed positions. Closed position is illustrated in Figure 2 and open position in Figure l. A lever 26 is attached to the shaft forming the pivotal connection 24, and this lever cgnsist of two oppositely extending arms 21 and 2 An electrical solenoid 25 i'smounted upon one side of the housing I I (Figure 1) and has its operating member attached by rod M to the arm 2?. Thus when solenoid 29 is energized rod 3! is pulled upwardly to swing the gate 22 to closed position.

Disposed below the retention hopper l9 there is a weighing hopper 35. A fulcrum connection 37 forms an attachment between this weighing hopperland the arm as of a weighing beam 59. The arm 45 of this beam is associated with electrical contact means as will be presently described. The beam is shown provided with an adjustable counter balancing weight M The lower opened end of the weighing hopper 36 is contoured V-shaped as illustrated in Figure 1, and is normally closed by a pair of doors 42 and 43. The door 42 is pivoted at 44 to the hopper and is provided with the operating arm 46. Door 43 likewise has a pivotal connection 4! with the weighing hopper, and has an operating arm 48. Link 49 serves to connect the two doors, and has one end attached by pivotal connection with arm 65, and its other end pivotally attached at 52 to the door 43. Thus the two doors 42 and 43 must open and close in vsynchronism.

A latch lever 53 has a pivotal mounting 54 on one side of the weighing hopper. One end of this lever has a knife edge 56 which engages in the notch 51, formed in the link 49. The other portion of the latch lever is normally urged upwardly by tension spring 58, and is adapted to engage the upper end of the operating arm G8. Tension spring 59 serves to normally urge both the doors 42 and 43 toward closed position.

A push rod 6| has its upper end pivotally attached to the arm 28, and its lower end siidably guided in a bar 82 which is carried by the frame 63 of the machine. When rod 6! is moved down wardly, which occurs upon energizing the solenoid 29, its lower end applies thrust to the lever 53 to rotate the latter in a clockwise direction, whereby the knife edge 5'6 is displaced from the notch 57, after which further movement of the lever 53 turns arm 48 in a counter clockwise direction to move both the doors 42 and 43 to full open position. When push rod 6! is again returned to its initial position, the doors 42 and 43 return to closed position and the latch 53 automatically reengages with the notch 51.

As a part of the electrical means employed a small switch 5'6, such as one of the microswitch type, is mounted upon the side of the housing II, and its operating member 67 is adapted to engage a movable lever 58. A roller -69 carried by the free end of this lever is adapted.

As previously mentioned the weighing beam is associated with electrical contact means. Thus contacting device "H5 is mounted upon the rear of the machine, and is provided with movable and stationary electrical contacts '5'! and '18. The movable contact 1? is carried upon a vertically movable member 19, which has an operating connection with the rear end of the beam arm 48. Member Hi is also adapted to engage in adjustable stop 8|. Thus when a predetermined weight has beenplaced in the weighall ing hopper 36, the balancing of the weighing beam causes contacts '1'! and 18 to be brought into engagement. It is desirable that movement of the weighing beam be damped by suitable means such as a dash pot 82, in order to prevent undesirable swinging of the beam or chattering of the contact.

It will be evident that the parts just described can be mounted in any suitable manner upon supporting or frame means. In the contruction illustrated the beam supporting frame 63 is carried by the vertical standards 83. A platform 84 is carried by the upper ends of standards 83, and serves to form a mounting for the housing H and electric motor I 6. Also this platform serves to mount an assembly 86 which includes a relay and a time delay means of the vacuum tube type.

The electrical connections for the various parts can be best understood by reference to Figures 6 and 7. In addition to the switch 66 and the contacts H and it, I provide a time delay device 8'! and a relay 88. The relay 88 is provided with three sets of contacts 1, 2 and .3. The time delay device 87 also incorporates normally closed relay contacts 4. It is desirable that this time delay relay be of the vacuum tube type, such as the time delay relay manufactured by General Electric Company of Schenectady, New York, under No. C. R. 750.4-A3D. Such a device utilizes a triode, the grid potential of which is controlled by the charging and discharging of the condenser. Plate current operates the windingsvof a relay which is provided with the contact A.

The circuit diagram as illustrated includes the current supply lines L-l and L-2, which may be standard 110 v., cycle A. C. Conductor 89 connects supply line L-2 with one side of the solenoid 29. The other side of this solenoid is connected by conductor 9! with one of the contacts 2. The other one of the contacts 2 is connected by conductor 82 to line L-l. .Line L.| is conducted by conductor 93 to one side of the switch 66. The other side of this switch is connected by conductor 94 with the contact 18. Movable contact l"! is connected by conductor .95 with one of the contacts]. The other one of contacts 1 connects by line 97 to the relay contacts l of the time delay device 81. The time delay device 8? also has one of its terminals connected by conductor 98 to one of the contacts 3. The other one of contacts 3 is connected by conductor 99 with the line L-Z. The winding of relay 8? has its one terminal connected to conductor 95, and its other terminal connected to line .L-2.

Operation of my weighing machine can now be reviewed as follows: As previously stated the feed drum ill is operated at a predetermined constant speed of rotation, and a sufiicient feed rate is established to the housing H to accommodate the weighing speed of the machine. Assuming that raisins are to be handled by the machine, raisins can be supplied to the chute I! ate proper average rate by suitablemeans such as a belt conveyor, shaker conveyor, or the like. Starting with the gate 22 open, and the doors 42 and 3 closed, the raisins fed by the drum H] drop down through the hopper l9 into the Weighing hopper 36 and there accumulate until the weight is sufficient to cause balancing of the weighing beam. When the desired weight has been supplied 'to the hopper 36 contacts 7'! and 18 are closed and a circuit is established for en ergizing the winding of relay 88 which can be scribed modification. tacts I9I correspondin to the contacts 11 and I8, the beam is associated with a second set of traced from line L-I, conductor 93, switch 66, contacts 'I! and I8, conductor 96, and the winding of relay 88 back to the line 1.4. Thus the contacts I, 2 and 3 of this relay are all closed, and also the time delay device 8'! starts its cycle and closes its contacts 4. Contacts I establish a holding circuit for the winding of rela 8! whereby this relay is held closed irrespective of chatterin of contacts IT and I8. The closing of contacts 2 causes the solenoid 29 to be energized by way of an energizing circuit which can be traced from line L-2, conductor 89, the winding of solenoid 29, conductor 9I, contacts 2 and conductor 92 back to line L-I. When solenoid 29 is energized gate 22 is first closed, and thereafter continued downward movement of the push rod BI actuates the latch lever 53 and effects rapid opening of the doors 42 and 43. Opening of the doors 42 and 43 discharges the weighed material from the hopper 36. Also upon energizin'g solenoid 29 normally closed switch 66 is opened thereby opening the circuit which includes contacts TI and 18. Thus the weighing beam may return to its normal position before commencement of. another operating cycle. Immediately upon initial closing of contacts I1 and ed to the operating lever I06, which in turn is connected by rod I01 to the solenoid I08. Lever I06 also connects with rod I09, which serves to operate the switch I I I.

Gate I03 is connected by a lever in linkage mechanism II2 with the operating member of a second solenoid II3. Time delay device 81 is the same as the device for Figures 6 and '7, but the relay H6 is provided with four sets of contacts 1, 2, 3 and 4, in place of three sets of contacts as in Figures 6 and '7. v

I8 the time delay means 81 starts its time cycle,

and within a predetermined time interval contacts 4 are automatically opened. This serves to deenergize the winding of relay 88, whereby the opening of the contacts of this relay simultaneously causes deenergization of solenoid 29.

'Thus doors 42 and 43 are returned to closed position and immediately thereafter gate 22 is moved to open position. During the time interval that gate 22 is closed, the drum I 0 continues to feed raisins into the hopper I9, where they accumulate until the gate 22 opens.

It will be evident from the foregoing that I have provided an automatic machine capable of weighin out relatively small amounts of mate rial such as dried raisins, at a relatively high to control discharge of raisins from the hopper I9, in place of a single gate as. in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive. The operating means for the two gates is such that they are operated in se- 'quence, whereby both gates remain open until the bulk of the raisins has been introduced into the weighing hopper 36, at which time the larger gate is closed. The smaller precision gate remains open until the final weight has been obtained.

The weighing hopper 36, the doors 42 and 43, and the latch mechanisms associated with the doors, are substantially the same as the first de- In addition to the concontacts I02. The two sets of contacts are adjusted in such a fashion that as the beam approaches balance position, contacts I02 are first closed, and then subsequently as a final weight is reached, contacts IOI are closed. Hopper I9 is provided with two swinging gates I03 and I04 which are arranged side by side. Gate I03 is relatively wide and can be termed the bulk gate, while gate I04 is relatively narrow and can be termed the precison gate. Gate I04 is connect- With respect to the circuit connections of Figures 8 and 10 conductor II'I connects one terminal of solenoid I08 with the lower ones of the contacts I and 2, and with the extended conductor II8 which leads to the line Ll. The other terminal of the solenoid I08 is connected by conductor HQ with the lower one of contacts 3. Conductor I 2I connects one terminal of the solenoid I I3 with the upper one of contacts 3, and conductor I22 connects the other terminal of solenoid II3 with the upper one of contacts I, and also with the extended conductor I23 which leads to one side of the switch I02. The other side of switch I02 is connected by conductor I24 with the lower of the two contacts I and 2. Conductor I26 connects one side of switch III with the upper one of the contacts 3 and also (by extension I25) with one of the contacts 5 and line L-2, and the other side of switch II I is connected by conductor IZI with one of the contacts IOI. The other one of the contacts IOI is connected by conductor I26 with the upper one of the contacts 4. Conductor I29 leading from the time delay device Bl connects with the upper one of contacts 2. Line II8 leading from line L-I and from the delay device, also connects to one side of the winding I3I of relay II 6. The other side of winding I 3| is connected by conductor I32 to the upper one of the contacts 4. The lower one of the contacts 4 is connected by conductor I33 to the time delay contacts 5.

Operation of the embodiment described with reference to Figures 8 to 10 inclusive is as follows: Figure 8 illustrates both the gates I03 and I04 in open position, at which time the feed means is supplying raisins to the weighing hopper 36. When the bulk of the weight has been delivered to the hopper 36, the weighing beam 38 swings sufliciently far to close contacts I02. This serves to close the energizing circuit for the solenoid II3, with the result that the bulk or larger one of the two gates, I03, is closed. Raisins continue to be delivered to the weighing hopper 36, but at a greatly reduced rate. When the desired weight has been obtained the balancing of beam 38 causes closing of contacts NH, and this starts device 81 on its time delay cycle, the winding of relay II 6 is energized to close contacts I-4, and solenoid I08 is energized. Energizing of solenoid I08 causes closing of the precision gate I04, and immediately thereafter the gates 42 and 43 are opened to discharge the weighed out material. Simultaneously with operation of solenoid I03 the switch III is operated to open its contacts, thus opening the circuit which includes the contacts IOI. Closing of relay II6 establishes holding circuits which maintain solenoids I08 and H3 energized until the end of the time delay period, at which time contacts 5 open, to deenergize the winding of relay H6 and to open all of the contacts of the same.

Figure 9 illustrates the position of the parts upon closing or contacts [02 and closing of the bulk gate )3. Figure 10 illustrates both the bulk and the precision gates closed upon closing of both contacts I02 and It'll, and the doors 42 and 43 are shown open to discharge material from the weighing hopper 36.

I claim: 1

1. In an automatic weighing machine, a feed means including a continuously rotating drum adapted to supply a product at a predetermined rate, a hopper adapted to receive the product from the feed means and having a lower open end, a gate adapted to close the lower end of the hopper a weighing hopper disposed below the first named hopper, a weighing means serving to support the weighing hopper, an electrical motive device mounted independently of the weighing hopper, mechanical connecting means between the motive device and said gate to close and open the gate responsive to energization and deenergization of the motive means, a pair of swinging doors pivotally secured to the weighing hopper and adapted to close the lower end of the latter, means serving to connect said doors for conjoint movement between open and closed positions, spring means normally urging said doors toward closed position; a pivoted latch lever carried by the hopper and adapted to have latching engagement with said last named means to latch said doors in closed position to support material in the hopper, said latch lever when moved to unlatching position by downward force applied to the same serving to apply force to said doors'to move the same to open position, and means forming a mechanical connection between said motive device and'said latch lever to apply downward force to the same to move the lever to unlatching position and. to effect opening of said doors, said means serving to effect opening of said doors immediately subsequent to closure of said gate, and electrical circuit means controlled by said beam for efiecting automatic energization and deenergization of said motive device.

2. An automatic weighing machine as in claim 1 in which said circuit means includes a time delay means whereby said motive device is automatically deenergized a predetermined time interval after initial energization of the same.

3. In an automatic weighing machine, a feed means adapted to supply a product at a predetermined rate, a hopper disposed below the feed means and having a lower open end, a gate adapt ed to close the lower end of the hopper, a weighing hopper disposed below the first named hopper and adapted to receive products from the same when said gate is opened, doors serving to close the lower end of the weighing hopper, a weighing means serving to support the weighing hopper for vertical balancing movement, a single motive means mounted independently of the weighing hopper, a connection between said motive means and said gate to move the latter between open and closed positions, means connecting said doors for conjoint movement between open and closed positions, spring means for urging said doors toward closed position, latch means carried by the weighing hopper for retaining said doors closed and adapted to be tripped byforce applied to the same to permit opening of the doors, and mechanism serving to connect said motive means to said latch means to trip the'latter in response to actuationof said motive means, energization of said motive means serving'to first closesaid gate and immediately thereafter trip said latch to el-Tect opening of said doors, deenergization of said motive means serving to first efiect closure of said doors and immediately thereafter opening of said gate, and electrical circuit means for effecting energization and deenergization of said motive means and adapted to be controlled by movement of said weighing beam.

4. An automatic weighing machine as in claim 3 in which said electrical circuit means includes time delay means adapted to interpose a predetermined time interval between initial energizetion of said motive means and deenergization oi the same.

5. In an automatic weighing machine, a feed means adapted to supply a product at a predetermined rate, a hopper adapted to receive the product from the feed means and having a lower open end, a gate adapted to close the lower end of the hopper, a weighing hopper disposed below the first named hopper, a weighing means serving to support the weighing hopper, an electrical motive device mounted independently of the weighing hopper, mechanical connecting means between the motive device and said gate to close and open the gate responsive to energization and deenergization of the motive means, a pair of swinging doors pivotally secured to the weighing hopper and adapted to close the lower end of the latter, means serving to connect said doors for conjoint movement between open and closed positions, springs means normally urging said doors toward closed position, a pivoted latch lever carried by the hopper and adapted to have latching engagement with said .last named means to latch said doors in closed position to support material in the hopper, said latch lever when moved to unlatching position by force applied to the same serving to apply force to said doors to move the same to open position, and means forming a mechanical connection between said motive device and said latch lever to apply force to the same to move the lever to unlatching position and to effect opening of said doors, said means serving to eiiect opening of said doors immediately subsequent to closure of said gate, and electrical circuit means controlled by said beam for effecting automatic energization and deenergization of said motive means.

OREN G. MOSHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

